Sheet-metal structure for book-racks.



No. 723,428. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

P. M. WEGE. SHEET METAL STRUCTURE FOR BOOK RAGKS.

APPLICATION FILED mm 12, 1902.

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NO MODEL.

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No. 723,428 PATENTED- MAR. 24, 1903-.

P. M. WEGE.

SHEET METAL STRUCTURE FOR BOOK RACKS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12,1902.

2 SHELBTS-SHEET '21 F0 MODEL.

. 17206212355: mz zeaws; law 772, 71 e UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER M. WEGE, OF NILES, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL FIREPROOF- ING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SHEET-METAL STRUCTURE FOR BOOK-RACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,428, dated March 24, 1903. Application filed June 12, 1902. .Serial No. 111,297. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER M, WEGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niles, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Structures for Book-Racks, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings.

My invention relates to sheet-metal structures for book-racks and thelike; and the objects of my invention are to improve upon the construction of bookcases, shelves, racks, and other like structures by creased strength, lightness, and interchangeability of parts with simplicity of arrangement and cheapness of manufacture.

A further object of my invention is to increase the flexibility of the structure and enable its size to be determined at will by utilizing as a unit for building of the structure a section or element preferably composed of sheet metal and suitably formed for the end in view.

Other objects of my invention will hereinafter appear; and to these ends my invention consists in means for carrying out the above objects having the general mode of construction as hereinafter fully described and shown in this specification and accompanying drawings, in Whichigure 1 is a perspective view of a bookrack embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional plan view of one of the end columns of thestructure on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional plan view of one of the central columns on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. view of the other end column on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, partly broken away, through the top of the structure shown in Fig. 1 and a portion of one of the columns. Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the unit sections or elements. Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view, with portions removed, of the unit sections or elements assembled end to end and interlocked one with another; and Fig. 8 is a detail view in perspective of a block for inserting between the combining in- Fig. 4 is a detail sectional plan sides of the hollow columns of my improved structure.

Referring to the drawings, the unit section or elementA from which my improved sheetmetal structure for book-racks is built up may have any suitable form for the end in view, and a preferable and convenient form of section or element is that illustrated in the drawings, although I am not to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction of element shown and described.

In assembling the elements A one of the objects is to form columns, as at B, at intervals longitudinally of the structure, and these columns are preferably hollow for lightness and strength and for the ready securing of the shelves or book-racks to the structure, as hereinafter to be described. The columns B are formed by and between the ends of the elements when they are assembled end to endin substantial prolongation of each other, as in Fig. 7, each intermediate hollow column beingformed by at least two elements which extend each side of the column, as at S S, to form the back of the structure. The ends of the elements are so shaped that they may be interlocked and secured together to form the complete structure.

The series of interlocked elements forming the sheet-metal structure may be secured in any desired manner to a suitable base 0, and any convenient top D may be suitably fastened to the structure in order to form an ornamental and finished structure.

Each element or section A in this instance comprises, broadlyspeaking, a sheet of metal having its ends reversely bent into hookshape portions, whereby any number of such elements may be assembled end to end to form the complete structure. The sheet of metal is conveniently provided with bent portions E at itsends, forming shoulders extending o transversely to the plane of the sheet, and at least one of said portions E is also reversely bent, as at F, into open-hook shape, thereby forming a hollow rib on the element, in this instance both transversely-bent portions E being reversely bent, as described, the hollows of the hook-shaped portions being formed between the sides of portions E and F. In the drawings the portions E of the elements are shown in this instance as oppositely bent, and the reversely-bent. portions F preferably extend beyond the plane of the sheet,although m any variations of the structure as described may be readily devised without departing from the spirit of my invention.

By open-hook shape I mean each book portion is open from end to end on one face of the sheet metal, so that two hook-shaped portions may be interlocked by moving one element sidewise relatively to the other as distinguished from moving one endwise relatively to the other.

WVith elements of the form described the ends are interlocked by thrusting the reversely-bent portions F of adjacent hookshaped portions into the hollows of the hooks and againstthe shoulders of the same formed by the portions E, thereby forming the hollow columns B. Any suitable means may be provided for securing the elements to each other, but as shown plugs G, which may be of metal, are inserted in the ends of the columns between the sides of the adjacent hookshaped portions and fastening devices, as screws H, are utilized to secure the elements to each other and to the plugs. The plugs G also alford a means for securing the top D to the structure, as by screws I, which may be inserted through the holes J in the top.

Suitable means are provided for supporting shelves, book-racks, or the like from the columns B of the structure, as shown, the outer faces of the columns or ribs being provided with apertures K, suitably spaced apart, thus affording a ready means for attaching racks or shelves 0 by means of hooks L or the like. The construction of the shelves or racks and the means for attaching them to the structure form no part of my present invention, but is claimed in a copending application, Serial No. 111,298, filed June 12, 1902.

In order to complete the outer ends of the structure, bent portions of metal P are fitted to the plugs G and extended the height of the structure, thereby forming hollow columns at the outer ends, and, if desired, partitions Q may be secured to the base 0 and arranged adjacent the columns.

Obviously some features of my invention may be used alone and Without other features and my invention may be embodied in widelyvarying forms.

Therefore Without enumerating equivalents or limiting myself to the construction shown and described, I claim, and desire to obtain byLetters Patent, the following:

1. A sheet-metal structure for shelves,book racks and the like, composed of sections or elements, in which there is a vertical hollow column formed by interlocking two of said sections or elements which extend respectively on each side of said column to form the back of the structure, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A section or element for a sheet-metal structure for shelves, book racks and the like, which consists of a sheet of metal having oppositely-bent portions at its ends extending transversely to the plane of the sheet, said portions being also reversely bent and extending beyond the plane of the sheet on each side thereof and transversely thereto, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. v

3. A sheet-metal structure for shelves,bookracks and the like, comprising a base, and a series of sections or elements, each element consisting of a sheet of metal having oppositely-bent portions at its ends, said portions being also reversely bent into open -hook shape, the said elements being assembled in substantial prolongation of each other, and the hook-shaped portions interlocked one with another, and plugs inserted between the sides of the hooks and secured thereto, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A sheet-metal structure for shelves,bookracks and the like, comprising a base, and a series of sections or elements, each element consisting of a sheet of metal having oppositely-bent portions at its ends, extending transversely to the plane of the sheet, and forming shoulders, said portions being also reversely bent into open-hook shape and extending beyond the plane of the sheet and transversely thereto, said elements being arranged end to end in substantial prolongation of each dther and interlocked one with another, the ends of adjacent hook-shaped portions being thrust into the hollows of the hooks and against the shoulders of the same, and plugs inserted between the ends of the hooks and secured thereto, whereby ribs are formed for the attachment of shelves, bookracks and the like.

5. A section or element for a sheet-metal structure, which consists of a sheet of metal having oppositely-bent portions at its ends, said portions being also reversely bent into open-hook shape, one hook opening on one side of the sheet and the other on the other side thereof, whereby any number of said elements may be assembled end to end and interlocked by moving the hook-shaped portion of one sidewise into engagement with that of an adjacent element, substantially as set forth.

6. A section or element for a sheet-metal structure which consists of a sheet of metal having an open-hook-shaped portion at each end forming hollow ribs, one rib projecting beyond the plane of the sheet on one side and the other beyond the plane of the sheet on the other side, substantially as set forth.

7. A section or element for a sheet-metal structure which consists of a sheet of metal having an open-hookshaped portion at each engaged ribs forming hollow columns, subend forming hollow ribs, one rib projecting stantially as set forth. 1o

beyond the plane of the sheet on one side and Signed this 22d day of May, 1902, at Niles, the other beyond the plane of the sheet on Ohio.

the other side, whereby two of such elements PETER M. WEGE. may be assembled end to end and interlocked Witnesses:

by moving the rib of one sidewise into en- JOSEPH SMITH,

gagement with the rib of the other, and said H. E. WHITE. 

